Adapter panel with lateral sliding adapter arrays

Abstract

An adapter panel arrangement including a chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters defining open rearward cable connections and open forward cable connections of the panel arrangement. The adapters being arranged in arrays that slide independently of other adapter arrays to provide access to the open rearward and open forward cable connections.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fiber optic apparatus, comprising:
 a chassis having a first side and a second side; and 
 fiber optic connection equipment provided in the chassis, the fiber optic connection equipment comprising a row of forty-eight (48) fiber optic connection locations between the first and second sides of the chassis, each fiber optic connection location defining an LC connector port, each of the forty-eight (48) fiber optic connection locations aligned along a first horizontal plane, wherein each of the forty-eight (48) fiber optic connection locations is arranged in one of a plurality of arrays, the plurality of arrays including at least a first array and a second array, each of the first and second arrays having at least eight (8) of the forty-eight (48) fiber optic connection locations, and wherein a gap separates the first and second arrays, wherein a forwardly extending member is horizontally aligned with the gap, the forwardly extending member terminating in a vertical portion positioned in a vertical plane that is forward of the row of connection locations. 
 
     
     
       2. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the row of forty-eight (48) fiber optic connection locations is a first row, wherein the fiber optic connection equipment further comprises a second row of forty-eight (48) fiber optic connection locations between the first and second sides of the chassis, wherein each of the forty-eight (48) fiber optic connection locations is aligned along a second horizontal plane substantially parallel to the first horizontal plane. 
     
     
       3. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second arrays includes a plurality of fiber optic connection locations from the second row. 
     
     
       4. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the forty-eight (48) fiber optic connection locations are defined by LC adapters. 
     
     
       5. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second arrays of fiber connection locations comprises at least six pairs of adapters. 
     
     
       6. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second arrays of fiber optic connection locations is slidable relative to the chassis, and wherein the first array is slidable relative to the second array. 
     
     
       7. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a sliding member that carries the first and second arrays, wherein the sliding member is slidable in a forward and a rearward direction relative to the chassis. 
     
     
       8. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the sliding member is a drawer. 
     
     
       9. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first and second arrays is slidable relative to the sliding member. 
     
     
       10. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second rows of fiber optic connection locations fit within a vertical height of 1.7 inches. 
     
     
       11. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis comprises first and second flanges at opposite sides of the chassis for mounting the chassis to a rack. 
     
     
       12. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a third array of fiber optic connection locations and a fourth array of fiber optic connection locations, wherein the first and second arrays are horizontally aligned and the third and fourth arrays are horizontally aligned, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth arrays is slidable relative to the chassis and is slidable relative to the other arrays. 
     
     
       13. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the third array is positioned below the first array and the fourth array is positioned below the second array. 
     
     
       14. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the forwardly extending member is a first forwardly extending member, and further including a second forwardly extending member horizontally aligned with and extending substantially parallel to the first forwardly extending member, and wherein the first forwardly extending member is separated from the second forwardly extending member by a distance of at least the length of the first array. 
     
     
       15. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 14 , further including a cable retaining ring attached to the second forwardly extending member. 
     
     
       16. A fiber optic apparatus, comprising:
 a rack-mountable chassis having first and second mounting flanges at opposite sides of the chassis; 
 a guide member disposed within the chassis, the guide member including at least one engaging member along the guide member, the engaging member being one of a projection or a detent; and 
 fiber optic connection equipment mounted to the chassis, the fiber optic connection equipment comprising a row of at least forty-eight (48) fiber optic connection locations, each of the forty-eight (48) connection locations comprising a port configured to receive an LC connector, wherein a first plurality of ports from the row is arranged on a first support member that is slidable relative to the chassis, wherein the first support member engages the guide member during sliding movement of the support member, and wherein the first support member includes a first complementary member that is engageable with the engaging member of the guide member to retain the slidable member in a first position. 
 
     
     
       17. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the fiber optic connection equipment comprises a plurality of adapters that define the fiber optic connection locations in the row. 
     
     
       18. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 16 , further including a second support member adjacent the first support member and aligned in the same horizontal plane with the first support member, wherein a second plurality of ports from the row are arranged on the second support member, and wherein the second support member is slidable relative to the chassis and slidable relative to the first support member. 
     
     
       19. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the engaging member is a projection and the first complementary member is a detent. 
     
     
       20. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first support member includes a second complementary member configured to engage the engaging member of the guide member to retain the first support member in a second position. 
     
     
       21. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein each of the first and second complementary members is a detent, and wherein the engaging member is a projection. 
     
     
       22. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first support member includes a rail that is received within the guide member, and wherein the first complementary member is formed on the rail. 
     
     
       23. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a second plurality of ports from the row is arranged on a second support member that is slidable relative to the chassis and slidable relative to the first support member, and wherein a gap separates the first plurality of ports on the first support member and the second plurality of ports on the second support member, wherein a forwardly extending member is horizontally aligned with the gap, the forwardly extending member terminating in a vertical portion positioned in a vertical plane that is forward the row of fiber optic connection locations, wherein the forwardly extending member can be used for cable routing. 
     
     
       24. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the row of forty-eight (48) fiber optic connection locations is a first row, wherein the fiber optic connection equipment further comprises a second row of forty-eight (48) fiber optic connection locations between the opposite sides of the chassis, wherein the second row is substantially parallel to and positioned below the first row. 
     
     
       25. A fiber optic apparatus, comprising:
 a chassis having a first side and a second side; and 
 fiber optic connection equipment mounted within the chassis, the fiber optic connection equipment configured to support ninety-six (96) fiber optic connection locations in a one rack unit height, each fiber optic connection location defining an LC connector port, wherein a plurality of LC adapters define the fiber optic connection locations, the LC adapters arranged in arrays, each array including a plurality of horizontally aligned LC adapters, wherein a gap separates at least two of the arrays, wherein a forwardly extending cable routing member is horizontally aligned with the gap, the forwardly extending cable routing member terminating in a vertical portion positioned in a vertical plane that is forward of a plane occupied by the LC adapters. 
 
     
     
       26. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the ninety-six (96) fiber optic connection locations comprise a first row of forty-eight (48) front LC connector ports all aligned along a first horizontal plane, the first row positioned between the first and second sides of the chassis. 
     
     
       27. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the ninety-six (96) fiber optic connection locations further comprise a second row of forty-eight (48) front LC connector ports all aligned along a second horizontal plane below the first horizontal plane, the second row positioned between the first and second sides of the chassis. 
     
     
       28. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein each array includes a plurality of front LC connector ports from the first row and a plurality of front LC connector ports from the second row. 
     
     
       29. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the fiber optic connection equipment further comprises a plurality of support members, wherein each of the plurality of adapters is mounted to one of the plurality of support members. 
     
     
       30. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein each of the plurality of support members is slidably mounted to the chassis, and wherein each of the support members slides relative to the other support members in the plurality of support members. 
     
     
       31. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 25 , further including a sliding member that carries at least two of the arrays, wherein the sliding member slides in forward and rearward directions relative to the chassis. 
     
     
       32. The fiber optic apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the sliding member includes the forwardly extending member, and wherein the vertical portion is a grip for pulling the sliding member in a forward direction.